For some college students, graduating with a bachelor’s degree marks the end of their education journey. For others, that first diploma is the ticket they need to pursue another one. Whether pursuing grad school is part of a career path, or just following a passion for learning, understanding the steps to get to the next level of education can be tricky.
Graduate Recruitment Specialist Deanna Johnson leads information sessions for prospective grad students. A Ph.D. candidate herself, Johnson’s job includes traveling to schools across the country to spread the word about UCCS’ graduate programs. However, Johnson also recognizes that UCCS doesn’t offer everyone’s dream program and is happy to assist students on their journey, even if it lands them elsewhere.
“Everybody has their different journey for grad school, but it is a lot of the same steps in terms of exploring and things like that,” Johnson said. “There might be an instance where we don’t have a master’s degree here for you, and that’s OK. You have to figure out what is best for you.”
UCCS has over 20 master’s programs, ranging from 30 to 45 credit hours. Over half of those programs are offered online, and many have night-school options for students who work full-time. Departments have individual criteria for acceptance and look at applicants holistically, but generally, graduate programs look for a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Johnson said graduate school is like a more rigorous version of students’ major-specific classes in undergrad. Class sizes will be smaller, and students will be more closely evaluated by their professors. Graduate programs usually include long-term projects, such as theses, dissertations, practicums and internships.
There is no perfect time to apply to graduate school. Some students may start their process as undergraduate freshmen, while others go back to school later in life. Johnson broke up the “road to grad school” into four steps: think, research, prepare and apply.
- Think
First, students should ensure that going to grad school aligns with their personal goals and is attainable. Students should start with some career exploration, as some careers may or may not require a master’s degree. The Career Center can help students navigate finding the right career for them. Graduate school is expensive and requires time and energy, so Johnson said the decision to apply should not be made on a whim.
- Research
After deciding grad school is a sound decision, students should begin the research phase of their journey. Students can gain information by talking with their professors or mentors, or by searching the internet for their desired program. Some programs offer specific concentrations that may better fit students’ goals.
- Prepare
Once students get an idea of what programs are available, it is time to start preparing for applications. “Preparing for graduate school is a lot of hard work and determination,” Johnson said.
“If you’re organized, if you’re just looking at things and preparing, that’s really going to help in the long run,” Johnson said. Creating a spreadsheet with links, requirements and deadlines can help students stay organized in their application process.
Johnson stresses that, although it may seem obvious, students need to keep a close eye on deadlines for all their application requirements for the best chance of success.
Graduate school applications often require a personal statement, resume, undergraduate transcript and letters of recommendation.
A personal statement demonstrates applicants’ writing abilities, career goals and personal history. Students who undergo a particularly difficult semester can reflect on how they learned from that hard time and explain why their grades may have fallen. However, Johnson said it is important to stay focused on growth and not dwell on a hard time.
Letters of recommendation can come from professors or other mentors aware of students’ strengths or skills. Johnson advises students to build a good rapport with professors by staying on top of deadlines, attending office hours and asking good questions. Professors will remember great students, especially when they’ve had a student for multiple classes.
Johnson said resumes are a way for students to share their academic achievements and work skills. The Career Center has a drop box for students to leave their resumes and receive feedback.
Certain programs also require interviews, which allow prospective students and department faculty to get to know one another better. Some programs require the GRE, GMAT, LSAT or MCAT, which require more planning ahead because score delivery may take months.
The Career Center also offers mock interviews and networking opportunities. Students can schedule in the Student Support Network to practice interview responses or work on LinkedIn profiles.
- Apply
The final step of the process is to apply. Submit all gathered documents, complete application questions and pay any application fees. Johnson reminds students to check their emails for confirmation and contact admissions if they don’t automatically receive it.
Cost varies by program, but many programs have cost calculators on their websites. Each program has various amounts of financial aid to give away, so it may be good to contact department leaders, not just general financial aid advisors, for information on scholarships. Teacher assistant and research assistant opportunities may be available for graduate students and can cover some program costs.
“Always remember detours can happen, so just because you have a detour, that doesn’t mean your journey’s over. You might have to take a break, or maybe you have to take a gap year. Maybe you don’t get into your first choice of program … If this is a goal you have, it is important to continue pursuing that goal and evaluate how you can improve,” Johnson said.
Photo courtesy of the UCCS Photography Database.